Public Law

We are a leading public law team in the UK, consistently top-ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500, and recognised for our “exceptional capabilities and enormous strengths” (Chambers UK, 2016).

Our team has over twenty-five years of experience acting in the most significant challenges to, and inquiries into, the activities of government and public bodies, acting for individuals (including senior professionals and public figures), corporations and business groups, charities and pressure groups, as well as public bodies themselves.

Whether you are contemplating or defending a judicial review challenge, appearing before a public inquiry, major inquest or select committee, or concerned about protecting personal information, we understand you have wider interests at stake, be it organisational, financial, commercial, reputational or human rights.

As one of the only dedicated public law teams in the country, we rapidly get to the heart of the issue, providing realistic advice so that you can confidently navigate the bigger picture, as well as the litigation or inquiry at hand.

Our team is led by the ‘simply exceptional’ Adam Chapman who before joining Kingsley Napley was a senior public law litigator in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department, acting for central government departments, senior public figures, alongside other public bodies in the most sensitive and high profile judicial review cases, inquiries and related litigation.

What our clients and directories said

"Client service has been good, always with a quick turnaround to requests for advice. They are responsive and have a good understanding of client needs."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2017

"A real diversity of work. They benefit from experience acting for individuals, companies and public bodies, which gives them a depth and gravitas that sets them apart. Also, they are very friendly and down to earth individuals."

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2017

Sources praise the group's abilities in 'sensitive, high-profile, politically inflected work' and attest that 'what is really refreshing is their commitment to their clients and the care they take'..." 

Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2013

Stephen Parkinson is an "extremely astute and enormously experienced" former government lawyer who is considered to be one of the leading public law solicitors in the country.

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2013